The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed an outbreak of mumps in South Africa, saying recent data shows unexpected, steady increases in positive tests, mainly in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng, which “constitutes an outbreak”.
The viral infection, predominantly affecting children between the ages of five and nine, can be avoided through vaccination, reports News24.
People who have had mumps are usually protected for life against another mumps infection. However, second occurrences occasionally happen, said the NICD, adding that reporting has been inconsistent, as mumps is not classified as a notifiable medical condition and is not included in any formal surveillance programme.
However, it has received a number of queries related to possible clusters or outbreaks in different provinces since February.
To confirm an outbreak, public sector laboratory test data for mumps PCR positives and IgM positives from 2013 until now were requested and analysed, and based on the review, the NICD found that the annual percent-positivity for 2023 is 69%, compared with 39% in 2019 (the previous peak).
The tests also showed an increase in positive tests among those aged four and younger (84% in 2023) and the five- to nine-year age category (83%).
“To limit transmission … public health authorities may recommend an additional dose of the combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for people who belong to groups at increased risk,” said the organisation.
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